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So last Friday Oct. 14, 2011 I went through perhaps the most humiliating day of my life so far. The company I work for decided to part ways with me. To keep it short and skinny, I feel that I was let go for not kissing certain individuals (management) hairy rear. So they found a cheesy excuse to fire and me. I went into a conference room with my manager and the companies CFO. Before I even finish taking a seat, my manager immediately blurs out “(my name)… This isn’t working and we are terminating you immediately”. I kept my cool and took it like man. I am sure there was nothing I could do honestly, but take it. The CFO went over some paper work needed and a few autographs here and there. When I left the conference room, 2 large cardboard boxes in my cube were waiting for me. My manager explain that they needed all property returned to them. Cell, laptop, keyboard, mouse etc… etc... After handing everything over I was expected to be left alone and gather all my things, pictures, posters, personal stuff you know. Also time alone to reflect whatever I can or just gather my things in private. Well he stood there watching me with a Hawkeye so that I would steal anything I guess. This made me rather mad because our company makes 2 products and are both are around 900lbs. So not I like I was going to walk out with one of them in my pocket.
In the process, the operations manager (a real prick! 90% of employees dislike him) comes up as I am putting my stuff away. He tells me “(my name) I am really sorry about this. Everybody here loves you a lot and respects you as a person. However we are a bit paranoid… We know that you are a “Gun Freak” and love hunting. So I decided to call the police to escort you out”. “This is for every ones protection… You heard or saw what happen in Sunnyvale?” (referring to the guy who shot up the beauty salon). This hit me like a giant sack of hammers across my face. Well honestly, more like a large cold knife on my back. I had been with the company since startup. We were 5 and now are about 80 or so employees. I couldn’t believe that I was being treated like a murdering maniac and a thief all at once. As if losing your job wasn’t hard enough. I had to endure that type of humiliation all for having a past time hobby. I was actually generous enough to take the company out the range and play with toys for a little R&R a few years back at my expense. Well I ended using both boxes and I had to take 1 box out to my car. As soon as I open my door a police offer jumps out of his cruiser and immediately asks for my ID. Him my manager and that prick surround me and walk to my car. As soon as I open my trunk the cop immediately puts one hand near the holster and bumps in to see what was in my trunk. He then asks to open the car doors so he can take a peek inside. At this point there was a part me that was boiling but a larger part me was beginning to break down. Like that movie “Brave Heart” when Wallace is betrayed by that’s Scotts king guy. I was short on breaths my stomach had a giant nod and my throat had a strange sting to it. I walked back towards the building and cop said I couldn’t go or return to the building. I told him that I had another box there. He said they’ll get it for you, I said well I am sorry but my wallet is also there and there still stuff that belongs to me. So the cop came in the building and this time I had 3 folks eye balling me.
The cop then began to call dispatch to run a background check and he asked for my current address and other info normally asked by police at a scene. As I finished, the cop walked me outside and said “before you take off, I need a word with you” I said sure. I put the 2nd box in my car and we had a chit chat. The police officer was also in rather disbelieve that company I help grow would treat me like that. He said he didn’t know what was going onside inside the work-force and he is only there to do he’s job. He also explain what a little of what happen in Sunnyvale and that some people were just taking extra precautions.
What do you guys think? I believe it was prejudice and a sheer coward move because it was Friday and there really no one was left in the building but the manager and that other prick. I don’t think he consulted with other folks management about that chicken shhhhh move.
All weekend long I sat at home just waiting for SWAT to burst through door and audit my toys to see what was legal or not. Because I had no idea what sort of garbage that guy fed them. I just moved in into this neighborhood and I was so worried that it will tarnish my reputation around here. It is hard enough being the color that I am and background were I from. Imagine now, having a load of cops outside my house walking out with over 30 rifles and pistols as evidence or something like that. Honestly a very horrible feeling inside of me right now. I don’t want to take legal action because it’s my friends company. He’s a founder and more of an engineer than anything so he’s really not in control of decisions like that. + he is in Europe expanding the business. Besides that I have many friends there who I adore and would take a bullet for them any day. But honestly if the law does come to my house because they believe something suspicious is here. Then I sir I will see them in court.
In the process, the operations manager (a real prick! 90% of employees dislike him) comes up as I am putting my stuff away. He tells me “(my name) I am really sorry about this. Everybody here loves you a lot and respects you as a person. However we are a bit paranoid… We know that you are a “Gun Freak” and love hunting. So I decided to call the police to escort you out”. “This is for every ones protection… You heard or saw what happen in Sunnyvale?” (referring to the guy who shot up the beauty salon). This hit me like a giant sack of hammers across my face. Well honestly, more like a large cold knife on my back. I had been with the company since startup. We were 5 and now are about 80 or so employees. I couldn’t believe that I was being treated like a murdering maniac and a thief all at once. As if losing your job wasn’t hard enough. I had to endure that type of humiliation all for having a past time hobby. I was actually generous enough to take the company out the range and play with toys for a little R&R a few years back at my expense. Well I ended using both boxes and I had to take 1 box out to my car. As soon as I open my door a police offer jumps out of his cruiser and immediately asks for my ID. Him my manager and that prick surround me and walk to my car. As soon as I open my trunk the cop immediately puts one hand near the holster and bumps in to see what was in my trunk. He then asks to open the car doors so he can take a peek inside. At this point there was a part me that was boiling but a larger part me was beginning to break down. Like that movie “Brave Heart” when Wallace is betrayed by that’s Scotts king guy. I was short on breaths my stomach had a giant nod and my throat had a strange sting to it. I walked back towards the building and cop said I couldn’t go or return to the building. I told him that I had another box there. He said they’ll get it for you, I said well I am sorry but my wallet is also there and there still stuff that belongs to me. So the cop came in the building and this time I had 3 folks eye balling me.
The cop then began to call dispatch to run a background check and he asked for my current address and other info normally asked by police at a scene. As I finished, the cop walked me outside and said “before you take off, I need a word with you” I said sure. I put the 2nd box in my car and we had a chit chat. The police officer was also in rather disbelieve that company I help grow would treat me like that. He said he didn’t know what was going onside inside the work-force and he is only there to do he’s job. He also explain what a little of what happen in Sunnyvale and that some people were just taking extra precautions.
What do you guys think? I believe it was prejudice and a sheer coward move because it was Friday and there really no one was left in the building but the manager and that other prick. I don’t think he consulted with other folks management about that chicken shhhhh move.
All weekend long I sat at home just waiting for SWAT to burst through door and audit my toys to see what was legal or not. Because I had no idea what sort of garbage that guy fed them. I just moved in into this neighborhood and I was so worried that it will tarnish my reputation around here. It is hard enough being the color that I am and background were I from. Imagine now, having a load of cops outside my house walking out with over 30 rifles and pistols as evidence or something like that. Honestly a very horrible feeling inside of me right now. I don’t want to take legal action because it’s my friends company. He’s a founder and more of an engineer than anything so he’s really not in control of decisions like that. + he is in Europe expanding the business. Besides that I have many friends there who I adore and would take a bullet for them any day. But honestly if the law does come to my house because they believe something suspicious is here. Then I sir I will see them in court.
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